Veteran right-hander Zack Godley went unclaimed on waivers and has elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment, as first indicated on the Triple-A transaction log at MLB.com. The Brewers designated Godley for assignment earlier in the week.
Godley, 31, inked a minor league deal with Milwaukee earlier in the year and was twice selected to the big league roster. The right-hander sustained a finger injury in his first outing and landed on the injured list for just under two weeks — after which the Brewers designated him for assignment. Godley accepted an outright to Triple-A after that first DFA, but he’ll now head out in search of a new opportunity after once again being selected to the MLB roster only to be designated for assignment following a single appearance.
Godley certainly hasn’t been effective in his 3 1/3 innings with the Brewers this season, surrendering five earned runs, but he’s been sharp with their Triple-A affiliate. He’s thrown 30 innings down in Nashville and logged a 2.40 ERA with a strong 28.6 percent strikeout rate, a 10.1 percent walk rate and a 44.4 percent ground-ball rate.
At one point, Godley was a solid member of the D-backs’ staff, pitching to a 4.41 ERA with a 23.3 percent strikeout rate in 444 2/3 innings from 2015-18. That stretch featured the right-hander’s best season: a 2017 campaign in which he tossed 155 innings of 3.37 ERA ball. However, Godley took a step back in 2018 (4.74 ERA in 178 1/3 frames) and struggled even more in 2019 (6.39 ERA) before being cut loose by Arizona. He finished out the 2019 campaign with a decent stretch in the Blue Jays’ bullpen, but his hopes for a rebound in 2020 were largely dashed by a forearm strain that limited him to 28 2/3 innings with the Red Sox.
All told, Godley has a 4.92 ERA in 568 1/3 innings at the big league level and a 2.78 mark in 90 2/3 innings of Triple-A ball. At his best, he’s looked like a capable big league starter, but it’s been a few years since he’s displayed that form. He didn’t get much of a chance to do so in Milwaukee, but his track record and the widespread need for pitching depth around the league ought to earn him another look elsewhere.
A few weeks ago, as a Cardinals fan I was hoping we would trade for Scherzer. After receiving beatdowns from the Tigers and Pirates (no offense, but you guys are clearly rebuilding) I fully expect the Cards to sign Godley and throw him in the rotation. Either him or Wade LeBlanc… ouch that is painful to type, but here we are.
They could have just claimed him if that was what they intended. Since he passed through waivers it’s 100% certain someone will sign him for AAA depth rather than their MLB rotation.
Ha Pirates fan here
I live a 45 minute walk from PNC Park.
In your face!!!
He’ll be in Oakland soon.
And then pitch like an All-Star.
Godley can at times be very good. He will be a popular guy to grab for AAA depth by a contender.
Yeah, from his career numbers quoted in the article,he seems like a classic AAAA guy…
I think the Mets should think about hiring him with all the injuries lately!
I feel like this is a Braves kinda guy right now…
I can see him in Salt Lake as depth for the Angels.
Godly elects free agency, and many Brewers fans elect to be happy that he did.
Mets should offer a minor league deal.
Could be a good fit for the Indians to give him a chance.
RIP